Frostbite, the most common type of freezing injury, is defined as the freezing and crystalizing of fluids in the interstitial and cellular spaces as a consequence of prolonged exposure to freezing temperatures. As winter descends in Kashmir, temperatures frequently fall well below freezing, reigniting a common but underappreciated health concern frostbite. Frostbite, also known as Shoo, has traditionally been associated with the region’s long and harsh winters, especially during Chillai Kalan, when cold and snow define both the landscape and life.
When exposed to very cold temperatures for an extended period of time with limited blood circulation, tissues can become injured and eventually freeze, a condition known medically as frostbite. Physician-historian Henry E. Siegrist, in his work Civilization and Disease, highlights “that disease is deeply rooted in the social and environmental realities surrounding human populations, rather than being purely biological.” Cold weather and economic vulnerability make frostbite more than just a medical problem in Kashmir; it’s a social phenomena as well.
Frostbite is a cold-induced injury that mainly affects exposed parts of the body, such as the fingers, toes, ears, and nose. In the early stages, you may feel goosebumps and a tingling or prickling sensation in the affected areas. The skin may also feel burned. As the condition worsens, you may experience partial or complete numbness, meaning you lose most or all sensation. The affected skin may also turn pale or yellowish and feel unusually cold. During the thawing process, the skin often turns red and becomes very painful. While elderly individuals are generally able to tolerate this pain, it causes considerable distress and suffering among children However, as frostbite worsens, the pain gradually decreases and may eventually disappear completely. In extreme cases, the affected tissue can turn black, indicating tissue death.
The body’s natural response to extreme cold is vasoconstriction, which diverts blood from the extremities to protect essential organs. As a result, fingers, toes, ears, and nose become especially vulnerable. Early signs include numbness and discolouration, whereas severe cases can cause blistering, tissue necrosis, and even amputation. According to the medical community, ‘Cold injury represents a continuum in which delayed recognition often transforms a reversible condition into permanent disability.’
Frostbite disproportionately affects people who must remain outside for survival in Kashmir, such as agricultural labourers, shepherds, construction workers, and security officials. Their exposure highlights what historian David Arnold calls ‘the unequal geography of disease, where climate intersects with class and occupation.’ Poverty, insufficient shelter, and a lack of appropriate winter clothes limit many people’s ability to defend themselves against the cold.
In the past, Kashmiri society had its own traditional remedies for cold-related illnesses. The use of the kangri, oil-based treatments, and gradual warming next to a fire were all common practices. These answers show what anthropologists refer to as ‘local medical rationalities,’ which are influenced by surroundings and experiences. However, abrupt heating or aggressive rubbing of frozen skin can exacerbate tissue damage, as contemporary medicine warns, underscoring the conflict between biological knowledge and custom.
Traditionally, frostbite in Kashmir has been managed through indigenous methods. These include the application of leeches, washing the affected area with salt water (Noon Aab), and applying noon teel (a mixture of salt and mustard oil). In some cases, Rheum emodi (Pambei Tchalan) has also been used as part of local healing practices passed down through generations.
Prevention is still the most effective technique. Medical professionals recommend layered woollen clothing, insulated footwear, extremity protection, and limiting exposure to intense cold. In suspected cases, careful rewarming and urgent medical intervention are necessary. As one public health scholar aptly remarks, “In cold climates, survival depends as much on awareness as on endurance.”
Frostbite must be acknowledged as a public health concern in an era of shifting climatic patterns and increased cold spells, rather than an unavoidable winter suffering. Awareness campaigns, state backing, and community preparation are critical. As history has taught us, ‘how a society responds to disease reveals its moral and social priorities.’ In Kashmir, treating frostbite is about more than just medicine; it’s about dignity, equality, and caring.
The writer is a Research Scholar, Department of History and Culture, Jamia Millia Islamia, New Delhi.
Email: hilalmohiuddin614@gmail.com
